Seattle Man Pleads Guilty in Idaho to Distributing 50 Kilograms or More of Marijuana

BOISE – Walter Terry, 56, of Seattle, Washington, pleaded guilty today to distributing 50 kilograms or more of marijuana, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  Terry waived his right to be indicted by a grand jury and agreed to be charged in federal court in the District of Idaho.

According to court documents, Terry began advertising marijuana for sale over the internet in 2011.  Terry admitted to distributing approximately 146 kilograms of marijuana throughout the United States, including Idaho, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Texas.  An undercover DEA Special Agent contacted Terry in January 2013, and Terry agreed to mail marijuana to the undercover agent.  Between January 2013, and March 2014, Terry sent six shipments of marijuana to Idaho.  In May 2014, Terry agreed to sell the undercover agent five pounds of marijuana.  Terry met the undercover agent in Seattle and was arrested after providing the undercover agent with the five pounds of marijuana.  Terry told DEA agents that he began his marijuana distribution operation in 2010 or 2011.  Terry stated that after the State of Washington legalized medicinal marijuana, his business was negatively affected and he began advertising his marijuana distribution business on websites to out-of-state customers.  Terry consented to a search of his residence in Seattle, and law enforcement seized approximately 15 pounds of marijuana and $30,000 in drug proceeds.  Terry also admitted to a forfeiture allegation, in which he has agreed to forfeit at least $500,000 in cash proceeds and forfeit his personal residence in Seattle.

Distributing 50 kilograms or more of marijuana is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $1,000,000. 

Sentencing is set for April 26, 2016, before Senior U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Boise.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Seattle Police Department, King County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Postal Inspectors.